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Megan Morgan is an award-winning paranormal and contemporary romance author from Cleveland, Ohio. A mild-mannered airport bar supervisor by day and purveyor of things that go bump in the night, she lives on the often-wintry shores of Lake Erie with her spoiled cat and adult son, both of whom shed too much.

Her General In Gray by Linda Nightingale

Today I’m hosting Linda Nightingale and her paranormal romance, Her General In Gray. Linda is giving away Black Diamond Earrings and an eBook of Her General in Gray to one winner, and a second winner will receive a digital choice of one of the author’s backlist. So make sure to comment, check out the other stops on the tour, and enter the Rafflecopter giveaway! Linda is also here today to talk to us about her interest in the American Civil War era!

Leave a comment and check out the other stops on the tour for more chances to win!

LINDA NIGHTINGALE’S INTEREST THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR ERA

Actually, I’ve always been more interested in the English Civil War than the American Civil War. Years ago, I bred Andalusian horses, and my stallion Alegre and I participated in events in Staunton, Virginia (the Battle of Worcester re-enactment) and St. Petersburg, Florida. Since I’m a great fan of Charles II, this interest in the ECW sort of followed.

When I wrote Her General in Gray, not from a burning interest in the Civil War as much as an interesting ghost story in the tradition of the movie The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. Needless to say, research was required. Various aspects of the story like the cause of the Civil War, the battles and the attitude of other countries to the ACW drew me into more research and more. For example, I learned that slavery wasn’t the only cause of the conflict. Like most wars, the American Civil War was fought for monetary considerations too, in a word cotton. The South had it; the North did not and the Union’s mills needed it. Surf around a little and you’ll come up with all manner of intriguing facts.

I read about the bloody battles of Antietam and Gettysburg, choosing Antietam as the encounter in which the hero Sib was killed. Since he was murdered by a bullet from the gun of a countryman, he was an unquiet spirit, his body never receiving a proper burial. Now a locally famous ghost, he frightened away several would-be owners of Allen Hall, his family home, before the feisty Yankee lass Amber bought the property.

Meanwhile back to the research: It was interesting that one incident almost brought England into the war on the Confederate side. The Brits had maintained a strict neutrality under Prime Minister Palermo, popular sympathies with both factions passionate but not enough to enter the war until the Trent incident. The Southerners dispatched two commissioners, one to England and one to France. The commissioners reached a neutral port and embarked on a British vessel, the Trent. A Union warship boarded The Trent, taking the commissioners prisoner. Finally, to avert a declaration of war, President Lincoln accepted the demands of the British government and freed the commissioners. How different history would have been different had the British become an ally to the Confederacy!

As I studied on, the Civil War took shape as a people drama. Like all wars, when you come right down to it, the conflict is about the individual dying for a principle(s). I tried to decide which side I’d choose, and I couldn’t. Each had reasons I cared about. I was against slavery, but for the right of secession (of course secession wouldn’t work today), and the southern way of life was graceful and elegant (on top of the heap of humanity).

How do you feel about the ACW? I, for one, am glad I wasn’t there.

Autumn Hartley purchases Allen Hall at a steal, but the northern lass gets far more than a beautiful plantation in the South Carolina Low Country. The house comes complete with its own ghost, a handsome and charming Civil War General—for the Confederacy. The stage is set for another civil conflict.

John Sibley Allen died in battle from a wound in the back, the bullet fired by the turncoat, Beauregard Dudley. The traitor’s reincarnation is Autumn the Interloper’s first dinner guest. Sib bedevils her date and annoys her with fleeting, phantom touches, certain he can frighten her away as he did previous purchasers. As time marches on, her resident ghost becomes more appealing while her suitor, Beau, pales in comparison. Autumn finds her ability to love didn’t perish in the divorce that sent her south seeking a fresh start.

After over a century in the hereafter, Sib discovers he is falling for none other than the feisty Yankee girl, but what future could a modern woman and an old-fashioned ghost possibly hope for?

EXCERPT:

In an age of smart phones and tablets, she stood for a moment contemplating the past. The temptation was almost too much for her, but she’d started to fold the dress back into its resting place when a hand landed on her shoulder.

Sib’s voice was soft and tender. “The dress belonged to my mother. She wore it at a ball before the war. It appears to be in passable condition. Why don’t you try it on? I’ve imagined you so attired.”

“I’m a Northerner, remember? I’m surprised you offer your mother’s gown to me.” She turned, the green frock draped over her arm. “Where have you been anyway?”

“Here. All the time. I was simply playing along with your game of asking for my disappearance.”

She stiffened. “Don’t play games with me. My mother used to do that. It was disturbing and hurtful to a child.”

“You reveal more of yourself every moment, and I’m enjoying getting to know you. Very well, I’ll share something about me. My father—what do you call it today?—cheated on my mother. More than once.. I’d hear her crying at night. Thus, I would have been true to my wife.” Eyes sad, he nodded at the dress. “I’d like to see you in that, Autumn. We are becoming friends. She would have approved. I’ll assist with the buttons.”

“Turn your back. I’ll have to get undressed.” She motioned at him. “I’ve no desire for a ghost to see me in my bra and panties.”

He chuckled, his big grin enticing. “Such modesty. Actually, I was anticipating that view. Anyway, I’ve seen you in your underwear before.”

“You Peeping Tom!” She accused, shaking a fist at him. “Will I have no privacy? Do you follow me to the bathroom, too?”

“No, Ma’am.” He shook his head, his hair moving in soft waves. “I was simply in my bedroom when you changed into your nightgown.”

“It’s not your bedroom. This is my house, and don’t you forget it.” She glared at him.

He snapped a smart military salute. “Yes, commander.”

“Turn around.” She slid her sweatshirt over her head and slithered out of her sweatpants. “You are…such an annoyance.”

“Thank you. I couldn’t be more offended.”

A strange feeling of awe washed over her as she slid the beautiful gown over her head. “Okay. I’m ready for help with the buttons.”

The touch of his fingers filled her with an emotion she’d thought dead. A thrill actually rippled over her. Perhaps, because he was no threat. The General couldn’t break her heart as Chad had done. That dreadful affair seemed as far in the past as the dress of rustling satin. He was the VP at the agency, and their brief association and parting had twisted her feelings into knots.

“You’re tense.” Sib stroked her back. “I sense it isn’t the dress.”

“I’ll tell you later.” She spun, swirling the skirt. “What do you think?”

“I think you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

“You’ve got to be kidding.” A very sweet emotion seeped through her.

“Not in the least.” He offered her an old-fashioned bow.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Born in South Carolina, Linda has lived in England, Canada, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Atlanta and Houston. She’s seen a lot of this country from the windshield of a truck pulling a horse trailer, having bred, trained and showed Andalusian horses for many years.

Linda has won several writing awards, including the Georgia Romance Writers Magnolia Award and the SARA Merritt. She is the mother of two wonderful sons, a retired legal assistant, member of the Houston Miata Club, and enjoys events with that car club. Among her favorite things are her snazzy black convertible and her parlor grand piano. She loves to dress up and host formal dinner parties.